Spring nut fastener



G. A. TINNERMAN 2,358,890

SPRING NUT lFASTENER Filed sept. :5. 1941 v- S'ept. 26, 1944.

GEORGE A. TI'NNERMAN! Patented Sept. 26, 1944 zesseny UNITED [STATES PATENT )I-fr-lcll srmNo NUT rnsmen.' George A. Tinnerman, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to Tlnnerman Produ a vcorporation of Ohio oto. Inc., Cleveland, Ohio,

Application september s, mi, serien No. 409,423

lThis invention is directed to fasteners of the type embodying a sheet metal spring locking plate or the like designed for use with a cooperating bolt or stud fastening member in the manner of a nut device for securing the partsy of an aslsembly.

. (Ci. s-36) relation thereto in a manner to provide for ine creased resiliency in such a fastener and other wise supply a high degree of spring tension on vthe cooperating bolt or screw in applied fas fr position in a completed assembly.

A still further object is to provide such a sheet metal .fastener in which the complementary spring arm member is struck from the base of the viasteirier to extend in yieldsiblerelation there to in a manner to exert a progressively increasing axial spring force on the bolt or* stud onbeing applied to fastening engagement therewith, and which spring arm member is provided-with means f for preventing movement of the fastener in a resiliency and durability to absorb the eiects of shock and vibration as necessary to withstand loosening. or removal from applied fastening position over any extended period of use. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide such a fastener comprising a simple, inexpensive sheet metal device which is applied generally transverselyto fastening engagement with a cooperating bolt or. stud and which embodies an improved construction making for increased resiliency coupled with durability whereby the fastener is capable of withstanding severe conditions o shock, vibrationand the like in provid ing a strong and reliable fastening assembly over a long period of service. i

Another object is to provide a fastener of this character having an improved simplified construction which lends itself to the very economical quantity production of the fasteners. Still another object is to provide such'a fas. r

tener which is simple, durable and considerably cheaper incostthan other similar types of fasteners and, in addition, has the desired increased resiliencyz--for securing the parts of an assembly under ahigh degree of ycontinuously effective spring force in 'a manner to absorb the eifects of any shock, vibratory motion or the like which could possibly cause a loosening or removal-of the fastening device from applied fastening position. A further, more specic, object of the invention is to provide afastener of the kind described which is relatively cheaper in cost in that `less direction towardy loosening or removal fromy nally applied fastening engagement with the.

bolt or "stud Still another object of the invention is for the provision of a fastener of this character having an upturned end portion to which a toolmay be applied for easily and quickly applyingthe iastener and also for releasing Vthe same.

Further objects and advantages, and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and general combination' of parte of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled 'material is required in forming the lsaine from a comparatively small sheet metal body providing a. base and a complementary spring arm member provided from the material of said base to extend out ofthe plane thereof in yieldable in the art as the description thereof proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, in which like reference characters designate' like. parts throughout the same, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a preferred form of the improved fastener;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view-showing the fastener as initiallyapplied to a stud in position for securing the parts of an assembly; *f

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the fastener in finally appliedfastening position;

Fig. 4'is a plan view of Figli: and

Fig.` 5 is a sectionalview of Fig. 4 takenjon` line l- 5, looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a f astener'comprlsing e, further embodiment of the invention: and,

Fig. 7 lis a sectional lsecured by the fastener of F18. 6.

Referring now, morefparticularly, to the ing,.-Fig. 1 shows on an enlarged scale the general construction of the improved fastenervwhichmay be produced at very lowcost from arelativelysmall, inexpensive blank of any suitable sheet metal, preferably spring metal or cold rolled metal having spring-like characteristics. fastener may, of course, `beformed from blanks of various outlines, but from the standpoint of view .anfassembly 2 most economical quantity production, is best provided from a relatively small, generally rectangular blank which may be obtained at low cost from ordinary sheet metal strip stock with a minimum loss or waste of material. The fasteners otherwise are characterized by a simplified construction embodying a-high degree,of resiliency'and which construction is admirably suited for quantity production at very low cost in that only an single thickness of metal stock is required and merely the simplest stamping and forming op-l erations are involved such that the devices may be manufactured on standard punch presses at tremendously high rates of production. e

Generally speaking, the fasteners are so confstructed as to have what may be termed ai` slidingwedgetype of fastening action with a cooperating bolt or stud in securing any two or more A parts A, B, in an assembly under a continuously effective spring clamping force. 'I'he bolt or stud I may be of any suitable character comprising a barbed, grooved or otherwise shouldered -shank which may be driven into and through the parts to be secured or otherwise passed through aligned vopenings therein with a leading end portion of said shank projecting from the rearward side of the assembled parts.

In the present example, the 'stud is shown in a preferred form comprising an enlarged head 2 and a ring-barbed shank defining a plurality of spaced shoulders I which afford certain advanside of the sheathing for permanently securing the shinglesthereto.

In providing the general type of fastener shown in Fig. 1, the selected form of blank or sheet metal body IB, is designed t0 denne a suitable base II 1 from which is stamped or struck and formed a cooperating stud retainingelement I2 in the form vof substantial spring arm or the like which is integral at oneend with said base I and extends in inclined spaced relation thereto in a manner to provide for a high degree of resiliency relative to and in cooperation with said base I I. Said spring armv element I2 otherwise is sofformed to include an intermediate portion Il which is inclined gradually from said base and terminates in a free end'portion Il extending in predetermined generally parallel and spaced relation to said base I I The spring arm is provided with a longitudinal slot ,I5 of substantially uniform width extending from adjacent the area inwhich said spring arm is integral with the ba'se II of the fastener to the substantial center area of the tree end portion tages when one or more of the parts secured is I 4. The width of said slot is only slightly greater than the root diameter" of the shank at the bottoms of the grooves adjacent the shoulders I such that when the spring arm of the fastener is connected w the stud in engagement with any of said shoulders, as shown in Fig. 5, there is pro vided a positive locked relation from which the spring fastener cannot be removed by movement axially 0fthe stud. Said slot I5 terminates in an enlarged circular stud receiving opening I8 lying substantially entirely in the base II of the fastener adjacent the area in which lthe spring arm I2 is integral therewith. Said opening II is of a size for receiving readily the overall diameter of the stud shank as defined by the shoulders I, and

porarily installing shingles or other parts B in proper assembled relation thereon priortov finally securing said-parts. whereas an ordinary nail having only a smooth or roughened shank would not be held with sumcient gripping force for this purpose by the relatively softand porous composition of such materials; and second, such a barbed shank denes a-pronounced shoulder or f rib construction with which the` cooperating spring nut fasteners Il applied thereto from the rearward side of the installation 'are capable of positive locking yaction in fastening the parts A,

B, in permanently secured position, as presently to be described.

The ring-.barbed stud otherwise is such as to preferably with only slight clearance in'order that 'the stud may be received readily in said opening and the adjoining edges of the slot II easily and quickly guided into engagement with the adjacent shoulder 3 of the engsed ring-barbu of the stud.

At the end of the slot I! in thefree end por; tion Ilof the spring arm, the. surrounding marginal edge preferably is provided with a depression forming a rigid, generally annular seat I1 for the shoulder of the engaged ring-barb and which seat is bordered .by a retaining rim denning locking elements or projections Il adjacent define a series of sharp abutments or shoulders A l. spaced by grooves freceiving the adjacent surrounding material o! `part A on being driven therein to interlock with'the vshank andengage particularly said shoulders 3 thereof and thereby resist withdrawal of the stud after being applied 4to install vthe parts to be secured in temporary fastening position. Even though the relatively soft and porous composition of part A' lacks suf.. ilcient body to retain ordinary'nailsfthe use of therlng-barbed studs provides for sumcient holding power to retain the part B thereon eifectively in temporarily installed relation; and thus. in a building construction; for example, a speedy and economical method of procedure involves the l.temporary installation o! shingles on the exterior side of an area of sheathing to completion, if` desired, before the application of the cooperating spring fasteners Il to the vstuds from the interior 75- in the assembly and otherwise dispose the adj;-

the slot I5 which prevent any movement of the fastener in a direction toward removal from applied fastening engagement with the stud. 'I'he spring arm I2 otherwise is provided in a more or less predetermined spaced relation tothe base II according to service requirements and the amount of resiliency necessary for-clamping the parts of the assembly most effectively under continuous spring force. Preferably one end of the base II is bent upwardly tolprovide a flange Il which may be grasped by the fingers or engaged by a suitable tool for easily and quickly applying the fastener, or for removing t'he'same in a minimum 'of time and effort.v l

From the foregoing, it will be understood that 'the fastener constructed substantially as vclescribed and shown in Fig. 1 is applied as illustrated in F18. 2, by first positioning the stud-receiving opening I6 therein over the projecting pointed end of the stud extending through the ,pai-teli, B,tobesecured. The'flatbase II ot the fastener is pressed 'flush against the adjacent v rearwardfaceofpartAtotakeupanyclearance assenso v v i 3 cent edges or 'the slot ls on either side' or the i stud shank under the shoulder defined by the ring-barb 3 to be engaged by said edges border` ing the slot. The fastener is then pushed or slid longitudinally in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, to the .position shown in Fig. 3, and during this action the engagedyshoulder ,3 ot the stud rides on the longitudinal edges bordering the slot I over the intermediate inclined portion i3 of the spring arm. This causes the spring arm to be compressedl toward the base Ii of the fastener as necessary for the engaged shoulder 3 to snap'over the retaining rim portions It onto the free end portion it of the spring arm to be finally positioned on 'the seat il denned by the depression around the adjacent end of the slot I5. It will be understood that in such application of the fastening devicewhereby the engaged shoulder 3 rides on the inclined intermediate portion i3 of the springa'rm, said spring arm exerts a progressively increasing camming or wedging action on said shoulder to draw the fastener as shown in Figs. 3,4, and 5, the spring ann i2 is maintained in a constantly tensioned condition from the initial, normal position thereof shown in Fig. 2, and thereby exerts a continu ous axial pull on the stud as the'base li of the fastener resiliently engages the adjacent part A and clamps the same to part B under continuously eifective spring force in the completed fastening installation. In this relation, the engaged shoulder 3 of the stud is firmly and rigidly positioned 4on the seat il beyond the adjacent rim portions la which deilnev locking projections adapted to engage the stud and lprevent any reverse movement of the fastener in a direction to ward removal from applied fastening position.

Removal of the fastener may be eilected readily byv a suitable force on the fastener as through dange i9, to cause the spring arm i2 to be depressed suiciently for the engaged shoulder d to ride over thelocking projections i@ and othe slide on the inclined intermediate portion i3 to a position in which the stud isa'ligned with the stud receiving opening it, whereupon the fastener may be removedeasily and quickly in more or less the reversal of the foregoing described procedure for l applying the fastener to fastening position.

,e plication of the fastener to the stud by being initially applied in a direction transversely thereto simultaneously with engagement of the longitudinal edges adjacent the slot ib with the engaged shoulder t of the stud. The fastener of this char= acter otherwisemay be provided in a construction substantially equivalent to that of Figs. l-5 inclusive for operation and use in e. similar manner.

ln a still further embodiment of the invention, a return bent portion 2B, provided in extension of the flange i9' in overlying relation to the base il, is provided with `a stud opening defined by yieldable stud engaging elements 28 adapted to .snap over the pointed end .of the stud and engage a spring arm l2 tolI positively lock the fastener against any possible loosening or removal from applied fastening position. As illustrated by .the

f broken line showing in Fig. 7, said return bent portion defines a locking member which is angu-v larly disposed with respect to the base of the fastener in initial position with the opening therestud axially and tighten the assembly of secured vparts A, B. In the f nal fastening position of the in defined by the yieldable studengaglng elements 26 so provided as to align with`and receive the stud'when said legmember is flexed downwardly in the direction of the arrow to the position of the full line showing of Fig. 7. The said stud en gaging' elements 26 preferably are provided in the manner of opposed cooperating tongues which are sulciently yieldable to ilex as necessary to permit the extremities thereof to pass easily over the end of the stud and snap into positive locked abutting relation with the shoulder on the stud engaged thereby. v The spring fastener in any form of the invention preferably is constructed of 'relatively thin sheet metal, the thickness of which is selected according to service requirements yand the predetermined size of the parts secured. The fasteners are most effective when provided of spring metal suitably spring tempered and otherwise treated to give the desired toughness and hardness, particularly in the case of devices vwhich are put to heavy "i duty in installations where extreme vibratory motion takes place. A'cheap but eective fastener may be provided from cold rolled metal, such as cold rolled steel, which is untempered but of 'a spring metal nature and preferably harder than that of the cooperating bolt or stud employed therewith in providing an eective and reliable fastening means adapted for along period of satisfactory service and use.

f therefore to be conslderedin all respects as illus trative and not restrictive, the scope lof the lievention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, with all changes falling within the scope, meaning and range of'equivalency of the claims intended to be embraced therein.

, Reference is made to my divisional application Serial No. 485,184, ,led April 30, 1943, for claims relating particularly to the embodiment of Figs.

'i to s inclusive. Y f

What is claimed is: f

l. A fastener comprising a sheet metal body deining a base and a member partially severed from the base and deflected therefrom providing a resilient spring element integral at one end with said base and extending ilt of the plane of said base in spaced yieldable relation thereto,v said spring element having a slot communicating with an enlargedopening adapted to readily receive a cooperating stud for securing the parts of an assem-bly, andmeans deflnedby-the marginal edges of said slot for engaging thestud with said spring element compressed toward the base of the fasytener and exerting continuous axial spring force on said stud in applied fastening position.

shoulder thereon other than that engaged by the tegral at one end with said base and merging into erting continuous axial spring force on said stud in applied fastening position.

3. A fastener comprising a sheet metal body defining a base and a member struck and formed therefrom providing a resilient spring element integral at one end with said base and having a free end portion extending out of the plane of said basein spaced yieldable relation thereto, said spring -element having a slot communicating with an enlarged opening adapted to readily receive a cooperating stud having a l v shoulder, means defined by the marginal edges of said slot for engaging said shoulder including a depression about the end of the slot in the free end portion of the spring element, said depression being adapted to seat said shoulder in the applied position of the fastener with said spring element compressed toward the base of the fastener and exerting continuous axial spring force on said stud.

4. A fastener comprising a sheet metal body defining a base and a spring element inclined with respect to said base and having a slot communicating with an enlarged stud passage for readily receiving a cooperating stud in securing the parts of an assembly, means defined by the marginal edges of said slot for engaging the stud under spring tension in the applied fastening position of the fastener, and a return bent portion overlying the base of the fastener defining means for engaging the stud in cooperation with said spring element to lock the fastener in such applied fastening position.

5. A fastener comprising a sheet metal body denning a base'and a member. struck and formed therefrom providing a resilient spring element integral at one end with said base and having an adjacent inclined portion terminating in a free end portion extending out of the plane of said basein spaced yieldable relation thereto, said spring element having a slot communicating with g of the arm to form an edge adapted to engage the an enlarged opening ladapted to readily receive a cooperating stud in securing the parts of an assembly, said spring element being adapted to' be gradually compressed toward the base of the fastener as the marginal edges of said slot are engaged with the stud along the inclined portion of the spring element to dispose said free end portion thereof in engagement with the stud in applied fastening position exerting continuous axial spring force on said stud, and a return vbent member overlying the base of the fastener and provided with means for engaging the stud in cooperation with said spring element to lock the fastener in such applied fastening position.

6. A fastener comprising asheet metal body defining a base and a member struck and formed therefrom providing a resilient spring element integral at one end with said base and having an adiacent'inclined portion terminating in a free end portion extending o'ut of the piane of said base for readily receiving a cooperating stud in pressed toward the base of the fastener and exerting continuous axial spring force on said stud. and a return bent member voverlying the base of the fastener and provided with an opening dened by tongues or the like for engaging the studv in cooperation with said spring element to lock l the fastener in such applied fastening position.

'1. A fastener comprising a U-shaped body made of a single integral piece of resilient sheet metal comprising two arms connected by a return bend, one of the arms having an opening for the passage of a stud, the material of such arm adjacent the opening being deiiected from the plane stud, the other arm being provided with a portion partially severed from that arm and bent' to form an edge adapted to engage the stud, thev lower arm being provided with a portion partially severed from that arm and bent from the plane of that arm, said portion having an opening adapted to register with the opening of the upper arm, "the distortion of the upper arm being upwardly above the plane of such arm and the direction ofthepartially severed lower arm being upwardly above the plane of that arm.

9. An attaching clip having an aperture for receiving the shank of a stud, said clip comprising a pair of arms having portions extending in the same 4general direction, a shank-engaging portion on one arm and a slotted lip integral 4with the other arm and having a free end portion severed from and normally inclined out of the plane of said other arm and toward the first mentioned arm, Said lip being yieldable.

10. A fastener comprising a U-shaped body made of a single integral piece of resilient sheet metal comprising two arms connected by a return bend, one of the arms having an opening'for the passage of a stud, the material ofthe arm' adjacent the opening being deflected from the plane of the arm to form an edge adapted to engage the stud, the other armI being provided lwith a portion extending from the free end of such arm toward the bend and attached to-that arm only adjacent said free end, whereby said portion has a flexibility in addition to that of the arm car. rying it, said portion having an opening adapted of both arms, there being a slot in .said portion extending from the extreme end of the arm inf wardly to the bolt' opening through such portion.

l1. A fastener comprising a strip of resilient sheet metal doubled on itself to make two arms connected by. a return bend and extending therey 2,358,890 from in the same general direction, one of said to engage in a groove of a grooved stud passing 1 through the opening-the other arm having an intermediately located `slot extending from the outer end of the arm inwardly, the portion oi the last-mentioned arm bounding vthe slot comprising a U-shaped member Aattached to that arm only adjacent the outer end of the arm and the return bend of the U being beyond theaxis of the stud which may occupy the opening oi' the other arm, whereby said slot provides space for said stud.

l2. A fastener comprising a U-shaped body made of a single integral piece of resilient sheet metal comprising two arms connected by a return bend, one of the arms having an opening for the passage of a stud, thematerial of the A arml adjacent the opening being deflected from the other arm, such included portion havingan opening adapted to register with the opening of the other arm, whereby a single stud may occupy 'the openings of both arms, the stud-engaging por-` tion of the upper arm comprising a pair oi tongues on opposite sides of the opening, each anchored 'to the arm in aregion comparatively distant from the opening and bent upwardly at the end adjacent the opening. i

`13. A fastener comprising a U-shaped' body made of a single integral piece of resilient sheet metal comprising two arms connected by a return bend, one of the arms having an opening for the passage of astud, the material of the arm adjacent the openingv being deiiected from the plane ofthe arm to vform an edge adaptedto enportion, the other arm being provided with a y portion partially severed from that arm and be'nt at an incline from the plane o1' that arm toward bent at an acute angle from the plane of that arm toward the one arm, said portion having anI opening adapted to register with the opening oi the one arm whereby a single stud may occupy the openings oi both arms', there being a slot in said portion extending fromNthe extreme end 'of the arm'inwardly to the bolt opning through such portion; v o v GEORGE A. TINNERMAN. 

